Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Tenchi Muyo! They are owned by AIC and Pioneer North America. I did not create them, and their use here is strictly for the enjoyment of myself and anyone who gets bored enough to read this. In other words: Please don't sue my poor ass. Tenchi Muyo! From the Blood of the Gods-- Part 1: Shadowcaller (or "No Need for Apologies") by the Loneshark Washu got up out of her bed and stretched. These summer nights were uncommonly hot, and she was having difficulty sleeping. She sleepily walked out of her lab, and into the kitchen of the Masaki house. "Maybe some tea will help," she mumbled. Little Washu had been having trouble sleeping for the past week. At first, she hadn't worried over it, but now it was beginning to bother her. She chuckled as she made herself a cup of tea. "The greastest genuis scientist in the universe worried over a little sleep loss? You must be getting soft , Washu." She sat down on a couch in the living room, sipping her tea. Her holographic keyboard appeared in front of her, and she began typing with one hand. She placed the cup of tea on the table, and started focusing on her work. After a few seconds of work, Washu stopped, and smacked herself in the head. "Dope!" she muttered. "This is just going to keep me awake." She stood, and walked up the stairs to Mayuka's room. It was attached to the room that Ayeka, Sasami, Kiyone and Mihoshi shared, forcing Washu to be extra quiet. "Yea, right! What am I thinking?" she thought. "It would take a typhoon to wake up any of those girls." She slid into Mayuka's room, and quietly tip-toed over to her crip. At the bottom of the crib lay a sleeping little babe, only a year old. Washu smiled as she whatched the infant sleep. "How can anyone be so peaceful?" she wondered silently. It calmed her to see Mayuka, her little blue haired head tilting a little, as if deep in dream. Washu smiled, and silently went back down stairs and sat on the couch. She sighed, and leaned her head back, staring up at the cieling. Bright moonlight came in through the windows, filling the rafters of the house with deep shadows. Washu looked into the shadows' depths, deeper, and deeper, and deeper, until her eyes began to shut... The sudden, urgent beeping of her computer jolted Washu awake. She yelled out, and looked at the holographic screen. "What's this?" She typed on the keyboard. "Abnormal transmission energy readings. Emenating from...," Washu gasped, and leaped from the couch. She ran out the sliding glass doors, onto the deck stretching out over the lake. At the far end of the deck was Sasami in her nightgown. She hovered above the water, her eyes staring up at the stars. "Sasami!" Washu started running down the deck. She reached the young girl, and pulled her onto the deck. "Sasami!" Wahsu cried out as she looked at the young girl. Sasami's eyes were jet black, relfecting onlty the pinpoints of light in the sky above them. Washu shook her. "Sasami? Come on, Sasami, snap out of it!" Sasami blinked, and her eyes returned to normal. Sasami looked up at Washu. "Oh, Miss Washu! What are you doing...?" Sasami began to look around. "Why are we... am I...," her gaze came back to Washu, tears filling her big pink eyes. "Miss Washu, what's going on?" She began to cry, and buried her face in Washu's shoulder. A cool wind blew passed them. The wind wasn't that cold, but Washu still shivered. "Sasami?" The young girl's crying had died down to a sniffle. She looked at Washu. "Are you okay, now?" She nodded. "Sasami, let's not tell anyone about this until we figure it out, okay?" Sasami hesitated a moment, than nodded. Washu smiled, and Sasami couldn't help but to smile with her. "Come on," the diminutive scientist said. "Let's go get some sleep." As they walked back inside the house, Washu thought she heard something, something in the breeze, but decided to ignore it for the moment. After she made sure Sasami had gone to bed and fallen asleep, Washu sat back down on the couch, staring at her computer. She picked up her tea, and took a sip. It was cold. Washu sighed, and loked at her tea. "Well, so much for sleep." *** Tenchi Masaki hefted the laundary basket onto his shoulder, and began to carry it from the garage to the side of the house, where Ayeka was hanging it to dry. Normally Sasami would be helping with the laundary, but after breakfast she had announced that she wasn't feeling well, and Washu volunteered to take care of her. Now that he thought about it, Tenchi hoped Washu wasn't planning on conducting some sort of research experiment on Sasami. Tenchi gave a mental shiver. Washu was taking care of Sasami, and Mihoshi was watching Mayuka. Both, in his mind, were very scary situations. Tenchi sat the basket of laundary down at Ayeka's feet. "Oh, thank you, Tenchi," Aeyka siad, cheerfully. Tenchi smiled, "Sure, no problem. I'll just get the rest." As he turned and walked back towards the garage, Tenchi saw someone standing in the corner of the house, in the cool shadows cast by the morning sun. It was a young man, but Tenchi couldn't tell his age. His skin was ghost white, and he wore some type of black uniform. He scanned Tenchi with slim red eyes, and his dark brown hair was part down the middle in front, and the back left to grow and tied back behind him. The man's most distinguishing feature, however, was a red, diamond shaped gem in his forehead. This wasn't the first time a stranger appeared at the Masaki household, and Tenchi scratched the back of his head nervously. "Oh, uh, hi there. Can I, uh, help you?" The young man's thin lips spread into a smile, and he blinked his red eyes,and shook his head. Then, he melted into the shadows, and disappeared. "Tenchi, did you say something?" He turned to Ayeka, stammering, but nothing coherent could be made out. Then he collapsed to the ground, holding his head in his hands. "Lord Tenchi! Are you all right?" Ayeka cried out, and ran over to the dazed and confused Tenchi. *** "You say he what?!" Kiyone was the first to cry out in suprise. They all sat around the table, eating lunch cooked by Kiyone. All, that is, with the exception of Washu and Sasami. "Like I said, he just sort of... melted into the shadows," Tenchi repeated. He had told the brief story of his encounter at lunch, when he knew everyone would be present. But the person he needed to talk to most about this, Washu, wasn't present. Lord Katsuhito sipped his tea, and sat in thought. Tenchi looked at him. "Do you know anything about this, Grandpa?" Lord Katsuhito shook his head, and then stood. "Nothing definate, yet. I'll go back to the shrine, now. Call me for dinner." Tenchi's grandfather left in his usual curt manner. Tenchi sat down and rested his head in his hands. Ryoko put a hand on Tenchi's shoulder. "Hey, relax." He looked up at her. She smiled slyly. "If there's someone out there to cause us trouble again, we'll hunt him down, Tenchi. I promise." Despite her brashness, Tenchi smiled at Ryoko's assurance. "Thanks." "We may be able to check Yagami's computer for any bounties and criminal activity in the area. What do you think, Mihoshi?" Kiyone checked herself, realizing what she had just done. She had asked Mihoshi what she thought! Mihoshi giggled, playing with Mayuka and oblivious to the entire conversation from its beginning. "That's it, come to Aunt Mihoshi," she giggled. The young Mayuka waddled over to the blond GP officer, giggling with the joy of youth. Mihoshi giggled with the joy of ignorance. "Did you say something, Kiyone?" she asked without turning around. Kiyone sighed. "Nevermind." *** Washu sat silently at her computer, typing in commands and checking readings. Sasami sat on a metal table that hovered a few feet away. Ryo-ohki sat in the girl's lap, purring contently. After a few seconds, Sasami finally spoke. "Miss Washu? Will you please tell me what happened last night?" Washu turned and faced her. "I... I don't think I understand it, fully." Sasami held in a gasp. She never thought she would hear Washu admit such a thing. "You were giving off energy transmission of a type I have only seen displayed by advanced and powerful starships. But, at the same time, it was not coming from you." "What do you mean?" "The transmissions were coming from Tsunami. She was trying to contact someone, but I don't know why." Washu eyed Sasami, trying to guage her reaction. Sasami hung her head, and stroked Ryo-ohki, who gave a meow of pleasure. "Niether do I." Before Washu could ask the question, Sasami answered. "I'll try and let you talk with Tsunami." Washu smiled. "Thank you, Sasami." Sasami closed her eyes, and concentrated. Soon, she had fallen into a sleep-like trance, and a blue aura surrounded her. The aura began to move, independantly, as if the apparition possessed a life of it's own. It moved midway between Washu and Sasami, and then stopped, taking a shape. Tsunami materialized, her gentle face looking down at Washu. "Hello, Washu. You wished to see me?" Washu wasted no time in getting to the point. "You were trying to contact someone, or something, and you used Sasami's body as a living transmitter. Why?" Tsunami frowned. "I apologize for frightening you and Sasami. I assure you, that no harm has been done to her." "I know that. I checked." Washu's patience was becoming strained. "You scared her. I know it's not like you to use people in such a manner, Tsunami. But dammit, I don't understand what you are doing!" Tsunami remained calm, and bowed her head slightly. "Forgive me, Washu, that I cannot explain everything to you. Please know that all will become apparent in time. "I have summoned a Guardian, for Sasami and I." Washu furrowed her brow. "You mean a Guardian of Jurai?" "No. One of those who was chosen to protect. Again, I am sorry I can not tell you more. You will know all when the time is right." With that, the image of Tsunami dissipated, and the blue aura retracted into Sasami. Washu sat, thinking. She hated cryptic answers, but she hated a mystery even more. Tsunami had been honest with them in the past. What was she hiding now? Why? Washu's mind raced with possibilities. None of them seemed very optomistic to her. Sasami blinked, and came out of her trance. "What did you find out?" She asked Washu, her voice hopeful. Washu smiled, despite her mood, and said, "It looks like we're going to get another house guest." *** The bounty hunter whatched the house from his perch in the tree. It was cool in the shade of it's leaves, although he did not mind the sun. Where there was light, there was also shadow, his home. His element. He was perfectly comfortable with the bright sun of this planet, but did it have to be so damn hot? The small communicator badge on his shoulder beeped, and the familiar voice of his partner, who sat in their ship orbiting the planet Earth, crackled and spoke. "Well, Shadow Dog? Having fun yet?" He smiled, and nodded. "Yes. Is that really so bad, Bryant?" "I hate it when you play with the target. Contacting him before you hit could jeapordize the mission." "You don't have any faith in me, do you?" Shadow Dog frowned, and looked pitifully at the communicator badge, as if it was his partner in the flesh. Bryant groaned. "I just hate it when you play the stalking game. You know that. 'Sides, we're getting paid on a deadline, here. If you screw this one up, it'll be both our heads." Shadow Dog chuckled at his partner's cynicism. "No faith. I've never let you down before, have I?" "No, Shadow, you haven't. I just don't want there to ever be a first. It'll be the last for both of us, got it?" "Yea, I got it." There was a moment of silence before the bounty hunter heard from his partner again. "Shadow, why did you volunteer us for this mission?" Shadow Dog raised an eyebrow. "What? You mean you aren't interested in the money that we'll get for this?" He heard his partner laugh, almost choking. "That was a joke, right? Seriously, you chose this mission for a reason. Why? You're not keeping anything from me again, are you?" Shadow Dog frowned. Of course he was keeping something from him. How could he ever explain it to a human? Especially a cynical, crude, dirty, old bounty hunter? "Let's just say... I felt a calling to take this mission." "Feh. Just like that calling you got at that bar with the blond? The one you ended up dating for a full six months? What was her name again? Mih-" "Do not bring her up again, please. I've had enough nightmares about how she destroyed our last ship. How was I supposed to know she was a cop, anyhow? "Just a reminder to not trust your instincts so much. Try going with your head for once. Check in later. Bryant out." " Shadow Dog out." He reached up and hit the badge, turning it off. He would move tonight. It would be easy to hide here until then. And then the young man, the target of the bounty put out by the Emporer of Jurai himself, would be trapped in shadows. *** The rest of the day had gone on as normally, with Sasami emerging from Washu's lab as cheerful as ever and ready to get an early start on dinner. She had said that it was going to be extra special tonight. When Ryoko asked Washu what she meant, the genius scientist only smiled and hurridly slunk back into her lab under the stairs. Ryoko sat on the roof, whatching the sun set. There was a feeling in the pit of her stomach. A simple intuition that told her there would be trouble before they all were asleep tonight. Something that might hurt Tenchi. Ryoko gritted her teeth at the thought. They had all been thorugh so much and each time Tenchi had pulled through and saved them all. Hell, Kagato trying to blow him up didn't stop him. He was even able to hold his own for a while against Kain, and easily defeated Yazuha. Still, Ryoko worried about him. "What the hell are you doing?" she asked herself. "Your making yourself worry for no reason," she told herself. "Then why are you talking to yourself?" Ryoko gasped, and turned around to see Tenchi standing on a ladder, his arms folded over one another and resting on the top rung. He smiled at her, and climbed up onto the roof. "Tenchi! You little...," Ryoko tried to be angry, but found herself unable to. She laughed. Tenchi sat down next to her. "You're worrying again, Ryoko. Just like that night, about a year ago, when Mayuka first came to us. I've never seen you like that since, except for when we fought Kagato." Ryoko shook her head. "Yea, and you talk too much, sometimes." Tenchi smiled. Ryoko placed her head on his shoulder, and breathed in the dusk air, letting the moment etch itself into her memory before she spoke again. Too many times she had dreamed of this, or something like it. Just her and Tenchi, enjoying the act of living. "Tenchi?" "Hm?" Tenchi looked down at Ryoko as she looked up at him, with her large, yellow eyes. "I'm sorry I tease you sometimes. I know I come off as a little..." "Preadatory?" "Yea, I guess. I just couldn't stand that thought of... if you ever..." "Come on Ryoko, cut it out." Ryoko was taken aback for a second. What was he doing? Just when she was being serious and trying to tell him something, he was... "You don't have to apologize for anything, you know that." "What do you mean?" Ryoko sat up. Tenchi's smile didn't fade, a sight that almost made Ryoko's heart melt at that moment. "Just that. You don't have to apologize to me for anything." Ryoko leapt at Tenchi, and wrapped him in her arms. Tenchi felt his balance begin to slip. "Hey! Ryoko! What-!" Ryoko cried out with joy, Tenchi with fear as they slipped off the roof and fell towards the ground. Tenchi suddenly felt his stomach churn as the ground came racing toward them, and almost as quickly away as Ryoko pulled him up into the sky. They went high, until they were far above the lake. Tenchi gripped Ryoko in fear, his arms wrapped around her so tightly that if she were human, he would have hurt her. Ryoko didn't mind, and enjoyed the feeling of Tenchi's body so close to hers. "Enjoying the view, or the pilot?" Ryoko asked, her voice carrying with it as many implications as are permissible in name of good taste. Tenchi blushed, and avoided looking down, keeping his eyes on Ryoko's feline gin. "Ryoko, it's almost dinner time. Would you please put us down!" Ryoko looked at Tenchi, and the look of pleasure on her face was making him unsure as to whether or not she heard him. "Ryoko? Ryoko?" Ryoko sighed lazily, and held Tenchi tightly, just to savor it. "All right." Instantly, they were teleported to the deck that stretched out over the lake. Tenchi tried to let go of Ryoko, but she held him too tightly. "Ah hem! What do you think you are doing?" Ryoko opened one eye to see Aeyka standing in the doorway. "Get your demon claws off of Lord Tenchi right now!" Ryoko dropped Tenchi, her mind now focused on her old rival. "Or what?" She growled. "Aeyka, Ryoko, can we please just eat?" Tenchi yelled. Both of the girls turned and looked at Tenchi. He had yelled, so loudly that he had exhausted a full breath. Ryoko and Ayeka looked at each other, then at Tenchi, and walked back in to the house. Tenchi breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, at least that was avoided." He looked down, and considered just collapsing on the deck from exhaustion, but decided not to trouble Sasami with having to drag him inside, and followed the two girls who constantly fought over him. *** Inside, Sasami was busy putting the last of the food on the table. Tenchi sat down between Mihoshi and Washu, who was holding Mayuka. Tenchi looked down at his daughter. It was hard to believe that it had been almost a year since she first appeared to them. It was even harder to believe that this child was ever the servant of a demon, or capable of the things she had once done. "Where's Grandpa?" Sasami asked, inturrupting Tenchi's thoughts. Tenchi scanned the table. Sasami was right; everyone was here except for Grandpa. "He's probably still at the shrine," Tenchi said. He stood. "I'll go get him." "Hurry back," Sasami called after him. "It'll get cold." Tenchi stepped out into the summer twilight, taking in a deep breath of air. It was good to feel the clean mountain air in his lungs, to taste the scents on the wind. He worked outside in the fields everyday, but somehow, at night, it seemed different. Everything had a mysterious, deeper quality to it. The night shadows stretched out before him, the possiblities held within their shroud seemingly endless and unfathomable. He shook off an involuntary chill. He was beginning to creep himself out. "Better change the subject," he thought. His thoughts carried him back to just a few minutes ago, when he was sitting on the roof with Ryoko. That moment had been so peaceful, for once. Even after Ryoko lifted them into the air, he had enjoyed it. Was it because of the peace? He wondered. "Or is it because of her?" He asked himself the question. "Did you enjoy just being with her?" He walked up the steps, the memories replaying in his mind, when he stopped. He felt something. A presence. Then, the pale young man Tenchi had seen earlier in the day rose up from the stone of the steps. Tenchi noticed that it wasn't the stone itself the young man rose out of, but the shadows of the trees. The bizare red gem in his forehead glowed in the little remaining sunlight, and he looked at Tenchi. He made no motion. Only his red eyes moved as they looked down on Tenchi, looking him over. Finally, he spoke. "I wonder." "Wha... what?" Tenchi backed up a step. "Why would they want you? You seem so unassuming." "What are you talking about? Who are you?" Tenchi tried to sound confident, but confusion was seeping into his mind, stiffling his courage. The pale young man bowed slightly. "Tenchi Masaki, there is a bounty for your capture. You are wanted, alive. Feel fortunate that I've found you." Tenchi was starting to get it. This man was a bounty hunter. Tenchi spread his stance a little bit, preparing for a fight. The young man made no move. "Why should I feel fortunate?" He already knew he wouldn't like the answer. "Because the Shadow Dog has found you. I always deliver my bounties alive." The young man, Shadow Dog, smiled. Tenchi was right. He didn't like the answer. Shadow Dog rushed down the steps toward Tenchi. Tenchi met him, and threw as hard a punch as he could muster. The bounty hunter moved fluidly, ducking under it, and rammed his own fist into Tenchi's stomach. Tenchi felt his balance go, and fell backwards down the stairs of the Masaki shrine. He crashed into one stone edge after another, until he finally reached the hard, dirt ground at the bottom. His vision swam for a few seconds, before he finally looked up. That pale face with the red gem in it's forehead stood over him, the smile replaced by a questioning look. "Hmm," Shadow Dog thought aloud. "For the price that has been placed on your capture, I would think that you would have been more of a challenge." Suddenly, the bounty hunter was no longer standing over Tenchi. He had been knocked aside as an orange ball of energy hit him from the side. Tenchi rolled onto his right shoulder, because it wasn't hurting as much as the left, and saw the familiar form of a cyan-haired demon flying towards him. "Tenchi!" Ryoko shouted. "No you don't," Ryoko thought. "You're not going to hurt him." The bounty hunter in the black uniform lay a few meters away from Tenchi, where Ryoko's energy blast had thrown him. Ryoko flew to Tenchi's side as he tried to pick himself up off the ground. "Tenchi! Are you hurt?" Tenchi shook his head. "I'll be fine for now." Tenchi and Ryoko turned their atteention as they heard a moan come from the bounty hunter. He rose up off of the ground, coughing. "That hurt. Could you try killing me next time, instead of wounding me?" Energy crackled around Ryoko's hands. "Gladly, you son of a--" "Ryoko!" Tenchi inturrupted. "Be careful. He's a bounty hunter." Ryoko flew over to him, hovering a few feet above the ground so that she could stare down at him with a hateful sneer on her face. "What do you want? You have five seconds." Shadow Dog coughed. "There is a bounty on the boy. He is wanted alive." He looked at Ryoko, hoping to get the full dramatic effect from his next move. "And the Shadow Dog always delivers his bounties alive." Before Ryoko could act, Shadow Dog moved incredibly fast to the nearest shadow, and dissapeared into it. Ryoko growled. "Come out, you coward." Tenchi walked up beside her, and put a hand on her shoulder. "Who in the world would want me?" Ryoko turned around, and then wrapped her arms around him for the second time that night. "Hmm, how sweet." Ryoko opened her eyes to see the pale-skinned bastard standing behind Tenchi. Ryoko let Tenchi go, and a glowing ball of energy appeared in her hand. She closed her hand into a fist, and the ball became a glowing sword. As she advacned toward Shadow Dog, he moved aside, dodging her sword as it flew over his head. Ryoko turned around for another attack, but Shadow Dog acted first. His body became wrapped in coils of black fire. As quickly as it appeared, it was gone, and the bounty hunter was replaced with a large, pure black dog, it's body giving off the same black fire that had encased it. The large red gem was still in it's forehead, glowng brightly as the beast growled at Ryoko. The space pirate took a moment to change her stratey to compensate for the change in hieght, and kept on coming. The hound leapt at her, throwing the whole of it's body wieght into her. Ryoko felt herself fall to the ground, and grunted in pain as the beast landed on top her her, it's forepaws pinning her arms to the ground. Even though the beast's body was pure black, wthout mark or highlight, Ryoko could see now the it's teeth were blindingly white. The aura of flames roiling off of and emenating from it's body grew larger as the beast growled at her. "Ryoko!" She turned her head to see Tenchi, the sword that shared his name in his hand, charging. The now literal Shadow Dog leapt off his demon opponent to face the boy. Tenchi swung his sword as the beast swiped a clawed paw at him, striking the beast's leg. It yellped in pain, and jumped back, now trying to dodge the boy's attacks. When he reached Ryoko, Tenchi stopped attacking, and held his ground between the woman and the dog. Ryoko stood, and her own sword appeared in her hand. "Freeze!" The shout came from behind Shadow Dog. He turned around to see Galaxy Police Detective First Class Kiyone pointing a laser pistol at him. Shadow Dog growled. It looked like he wasn't going to deliver this time. No wonder the boy had such a high bounty on him. The flaming beast disappeared in another small colomn of flames, and was replaced by the pale young man with the red jewel in his forehead. He was one one knee on the ground, his head hung low. "Put your arms up first, slowly," Kiyone commanded. Shadow Dog followed her orders, not wanting to feel what it was like to have a blast of energy go through his body today. "Now stand up." He did so, and faced Kiyone. Tenchi and Ryoko slwoly joined her at her side, their blades deactivated. "Now, would you please state who you are and what you are doing here? I need to know who to charge with what." Shadow Dog smiled. This was just too damn ironic for him. "I am the bounty hunter Shadow Dog. Member of the Hunter's Guild. That young man there, Tenchi Masaki, has a bounty on him. He is wanted alive." "By who! Tell us!" Ryoko could barely contain her rage. He hated when they asked that question. "I'm sorry, but I can't say." Ryoko growled. She flew over to him and grabbed him by the collar of his uniform. "You'd better tell us, or..." Her energy blady flashed to life in her hands. Shadow Dog's eyes went to the blade, then back to the angry demoness in front of him. "Ryoko," Tenchi said, "Let him go. Please." Ryoko looked back at him with a look of disbelief and shock on her face, and then did as he asked. She floated back over beside Tenchi and glared angrily at the bounty hunter, folding her arms across her chest. "Let's have proof of this bounty," Kiyone continued, "Or you'll be facing criminal charges." Shadow Dog sighed, and slowly reached into his pocket. Everyone held their breath until he produced a small cylinder from it. He tossed it to Kiyone, who caught it with one hand. She pressed a small red button on the bottom of the cylinder, and a small piece of paper shot out. Tenchi barely caught it, and unrolled it. Kiyone examined the strange writing, which Tenchi couldn't even identify as writing, and nodded to him and Ryoko. "He's telling the truth." She placed her pistol back in the holster at her hip. Shadow Dog put his arms down, and scratched the side of his head. "What are you doing?" Ryoko yelled. "You're letting him go?" Kiyone frowned. "It's under contract. There's nothing I can do, legally." She turned to Tenchi. "I'm sorry." Tenchi nodded. "It's not your fault." Ryoko turned to the bounty hunter. "Well, you're not taking Tenchi, you hear me? You'll have to kill me first." "I seriously don't think that will be necassary," Shadow Dog answered, the same quriously confident smile returning to his face. Ryoko blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?" "You've beaten me. I am no longer under contract to capture Tenchi Masaki. And besides," he shrugged, "I don't work without a valid contract." Tenchi walked up to him, and handed him the piece of paper and the cylinder. "Um, here." Shadow Dog took them from Tenchi's hand, and they were immediatly burned up in a small black flame. "Thank you." "Um... sure. No problem." Tenchi looked nervously at the spot on Shadow Dog's right palm where the cylinder and paper had just burned up. Shadow Dog took Tenchi's hand, which made him jump. "I don't belive we have been propberly introduced, since I was trying to kidnap you back there. My name is Shadow Dog." "Oh, uh, I'm Tenchi Masaki." Tenchi shook his hand, and pointed to Ryoko and Kiyone. "This is Ryoko and Detective Kiyone." Ryoko growled, and Kiyone bowed. She walked up to Shadow, standing beside Tenchi. "It's nice to meet you, Shadow Dog (I guess)." Shadow cocked an eyebrow. "A Galaxy Police officer in the Sol system? What did you do to deserve this?" Kiyone groaned. "Don't remind me of my partner, please?" Shadow Dog's ears rose in suprise to the answer, and decided to push it aside for now. He looked past Tenchi and Kiyone to Ryoko, who was still staring at him with hate and distrust on her face. "So, you are the great space pirate Ryoko?" "Yea, what about it? You wanna collect the bounty on me, too?" Shadow Dog took a step back, and frowned. "I'm hurt that you would mistake me for some common bounty hunter with no honor." "Then just what the hell are you?" "A Hunter. Not some second rate bloodhound." There was an uncomfortable moment of silence before Shadow Dog spoke again. "You're fighting ability is very impressive, Ryoko. Every bit as good as I've heard." Ryoko's hate didn't lessen. "Don't tell me what you've heard. I was there." "Ryoko? Tenchi? Kiyone?" The familiar voice of Sasami rang out from the distance. The blue-haired girl came running over from the house. "What's going on? We heard fighting, and Kiyone didn't come back. Dinner's getting cold, and Washu and Mihoshi are eating it all!" Kiyone made a face of disgust. "That ditz is stuffing her face again!" She stormed off towards the house. "She'd better not be eating my dinner. Not again!" Kiyone passed Sasami, images of Mihoshi shoving piles of food into her mouth floating in her head. Sasami looked at Ryoko first, then Tenchi. "Oh no! What happened! Did you two get in a fight." "Yea," Ryoko answered with anger in her voice. "With him." She pointed at the man standing next to Tenchi. "Oh, hi there." Sasami said cheerfully, and out of habit. The red gem on Shadow Dog's forehead began to glow, as did the two triangles on Sasmi's. They stared at each other, oblivious to the two onlookers. Ryoko went and stood beside Tenchi, both of them trying to figure out what was going on. "Sasami? Sasami!" Tenchi called, but she ignored him. "It's you," Shadow Dog finally said. He walked up to Sasami, and kneeled in front of her. "You are the one who called me here, Tsunami." Sasami smiled. "You're the Guardian Tsunami called for us!" Both Ryoko and Tenchi stared, confused and stunned. Shadow Dog looked up into Sasmi's big red eyes. "Tsunami is inside you, yes?" Sasami nodded. "Yes, she's here. She's happy you came. So am I!" The marking on their foreheads stopped glowing, and Shadow stood up. They continued to look at each other, smiling. Sasami grabbed Shadow's hand. "Come on, I have dinner waiting! I even made some extra, because I new you were coming." As Sasami dragged the bounty hunter away, Ryoko looked to Tenchi. "Um, did I miss something?" Tenchi nodded. "I think we all did." *** In his private chamber in the Masaki shrine, Lord Katsuhito, also called Yosho in another time, quietly sipped his tea, and pondered the situation. So, Tsunami had finally summoned a Guardian. Yosho had heard those legend, when he was younger, so many lifetimes ago, but wasn't sure that they were true until now. Even now, he could feel the presence of the newcomer. He was stong indeed. Not anywhere near as strong as the power Katsuhito could feel in Tenchi, but powerful nonetheless. If Tsunami had summoned such a being, then their time of need would be soon at hand. Yosho frowned. Such fearful events awaited all of them, soon, and he could do nothing but wait. He took another sip of tea. "Maybe I should ask him to train with Tenchi and I?" Then, he looked out the window, up at the fresh evening sky. Such calm. Only to be shattered again. It seemed too senseless. "Grandpa! Hey, Grandpa! It's dinnertime!" Tenchi's voice, comming from outside. Lord Katsuhito groaned uneccasarily as he got up. He of all people knew that he wasn't suffering from the effects of aging, but it was good to keep up the illusion, at least for now. It would give Nobuyuki a heart attack to know that his own father-in-law looked younger than him. "Yes, Tenchi, I'm coming." Before he opened the door of his office to step out, Yosho thought of how much longer he would be able to keep up the illusion of his appearance. Even more importantly, he wondered if Tenchi could ever be ready in time. *** "So this is it," he thought to himself. "This is why I was called here." Shadow Dog looked down at the young girl with blue hair parted into two rediculously long pigtails. The godess within this precious young jewel had called him to protect them both. But why? From what? They sat on the deck of the Masaki household, waiting for Tenchi to return with his Granfather before going inside and delivering the news to everyone. Sasami knew they wouldn't refuse what she was going to ask. After she and Washu explained it, they would have to agree. "Besides," Sasami thought, privatly, "he's nice." Ryoko hovered over the bounty hunter, feeling her energies, waiting to release them at the second he tried something she didn't like. There was no way in hell she would let him take Tenchi. No way in hell. "Are you going to whatch me all night, Ryoko?" She was taken suprise by the question. Shadow Dog tilted his head back, and looked up at her. "I'm not after your Tenchi. I never was." "What are talking about? You're a bounty hunter. And you frightened Tenchi earlier this morning. How the hell can you say that?" As she spoke, Ryoko's voice began to rise in anger. "Please Ryoko, listen," Sasami pleaded with her. Ryoko looked at Sasami, then at the bounty hunter, then back to Sasami. She sat down on the deck, finally, and frowned at him."I don't believe you. But for her sake, I'll listen." "And if he does anything to hurt Tenchi," thought Ryoko, "I'll kill him." Shadow Dog stood, and faced her, his face blank. "I didn't take this mission for money. I took it because I was called." Ryoko looked confused. "What the hell do you mean 'called?'" Shadow Dog sighed. "I... I can't fully explain it, at least not yet. I'd also like to explain it with everyone present." He sat back down. "I'm sorry. I don't even understand it myself." The space pirate looked at him, now unsure of her prior convictions. It only made her angrier to be so confused. "What are you talking about?" She yelled. Shadow Dog remain unmoved, but Sasami flinched at her outburst. Ryoko hung her head. "I'm... sorry. Sorry, Sasami." "It's okay, Ryoko. I understand." Ryoko couldn't help but smile at the girl's words. "So, are you kids having fun?" Katsuhito joked as he and Tenchi walked up. Shadow Dog stood, eyeing the old man, and Yosho eyeing him. "Hmm, so you are the one Tsunami has chosen." Shadow nodded. "Yes, I believe I am." He held out his hand. "I am Shadow Dog. It is good to meet you, Lord Katsuhito. Sasami has told me about you." Yosho took his hand, and shook it. "It is also a pleasure to meet you. Tenchi told me what happened." Lord Katsuhito's voice became serious. "I hope that they didn't hurt you too badly. I know defeat is more painful than a dozen wounds." "No, they didn't," Shadow shook his head. "I have little problem with losing, as it doesn't happen often." Lord Katsuhito laughed. "Yes, you'll do fine in protecting Sasami. Well, come on in. Sasami's an excellent cook, and I'm sure you muST be hungry." "I made extra becuase I knew you were coming," Sasami chimed. She led Yosho and Shadow Dog into the house. Tenchi began to follow until Ryoko grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Huh? Ryoko...," Tenchi noticed the look on her face. It dead serious. "What is it, Ryoko?" "Tenchi... I can't trust him. I've been hunted by too many of his kind, and now they want you." Ryoko's hands involuntarily flexed, trying to ball up into fists. "I... I can't let him take...," "Ryoko," Tenchi placed a hand on her shoulder. His touch helped to calm her, somehow. "I'm telling you right now, I'm not going anywhere. No one can take me away from any of you, I promise that." Ryoko took a long, deep breath, and then nodded. "Good," Tenchi said. "Now, come on. I'm starving." They followed the others inside. *** "Hey, everyone!" Sasami cried out as she walked into the living room with Katsuhito and Shadow Dog behind her. "I have someone I want you all to meet!" Everyone looked up, and shock quickly covered their faces as they saw the strange, pale man standing next to Katsuhito. Sasami pointed at him. "This is Shadow Dog." He bowed as the young girl introduced him, and looked at the gathering around the table. Officer Kiyone was seated next to a small woman who's red hair seemed larger than her with a baby cradled in her arms, and next to her was a man who must've been Tenchi's father, since he looked so much like him. Next to him was a young woman with purple hair that was tied back into two long tails like Sasami's. He recognized her image as that of Princess Ayeka of Planet Jurai. All of them smiled, and Shadow Dog smiled back, until he noticed the last person. She was a tanned, blue-eyed blond girl that Shadow Dog had seen in too many bad dreams. His face became colored in confusion and fear. "M... Mi... Mihoshi? Mihoshi!" Tenchi and Ryoko walked in to see Shadow's outburst of terror. "No! It... it can't be! What are you doing here?" Mihoshi blinked, and then clasped her hands together. "Shadow!" She jumped up and ran to him, her arms wide open. "You two know each other?" Tenchi asked. Mihoshi collided into Shadow Dog, knocking them both to the floor. He had been frozen in fear, unable to move. Now she was laying on top of him, hugging him and rubbing her face into his chest. The feeling was familiar to him. Tears of despiration started to fall down his face, and even the jewel in his forehead was crying. "Please... ge... get her... get her off of me!" Ryoko's opinion of the bounty hunter was starting to undergo a sudden change. "Well, if he's got enough sense to be afriad of Mihoshi," she thought to herself, "I guess he can't be that bad." Kiyone and Ryoko pryed the blond bimbo off of him, and held her down at her place at the table. It took Shadow a couple of seconds to recover from the shock and get up. "Perhaps we should sit down," Tenchi suggested. He sat down next to his father, and Shadow Dog sat next to Sasami and Katsuhito, opposite the object of his fear, Galaxy Police Detective First Class Mihoshi. "Shadow, this is Nobuyuki, Tenchi's father," Sasami pointed at the man who looked like Tenchi, who waved. Shadow bowed his head. "That's Washu, the greatest scientific genius in all the universe." The red-haired woman holding the baby smiled, and Shadow bowed his head to her. "This is my sister, Ayeka." Ayeka bowed to Shadow, returning his form of greeting. "but, how do you know Mihoshi?" A lump formed in Shadow's throat. "We... uh... well...," "We used to date," Mihoshi said cheerfully. "He even helped me on some cases. But, I thought you were killed in the fight with Ingeni, the other bounty hunter?" Everyone stared wide-eyed at Shadow Dog and Mihoshi. No one's eyes held more disbelief, though, than Ryoko, Tenchi, and Kiyone, who had seen the bounty hunter in action. Hell, they whatched him turn into a flaming hound! Shadow Dog coughed, clearing his throat. "Yes, well... I survived, barely. After you crashed that ship into Ingeni's space station, I was thrown into the vacuum of space. If I were human, I would never had lived as long as I had." Mihoshi looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes, and a smile on her face. "Oh, my little black doggie! I'm so happy to see you!" Mihoshi leapt across the table, and again caught Shadow Dog in her arms. He yelled out in fright, crashing back to the floor with Mihoshi on top of him. A large bead of sweat collectively formed on the heads of everyone present. "Mihoshi, please! Please get off of me!" Mihoshi blinked, and picked her self up off of Shadow. He sat up, shivering. "Mihoshi, I hardly think that such behavior is appropriate for a Galaxy Police Detective," Ayeka said, trying to keep civility. That, and it was obvious that this man's former girlfriend terrified him. "Oh," Mihoshi blinked, and went back to her seat on the other side of the table. "Than... thank you, Miss Ayeka," Shadow Dog bowed to her, his voice still shakey. "Of course, but perhaps you could tell us exactly why you are here?" Shadow Dog looked to Sasami, who nodded, and then he took a deep breath. "Well, I first came to this planet under contract to collect a bounty, although this was not my original purpose. The bounty placed on Tenchi Masaki was merely a good excuse." He paused as there were several gasps from around the table at the news of a bounty on Tenchi. "What do you mean there is a bounty on Lord Tenchi? I demand you explain youself!" Ayeka stood, her fury quickly growing. "Lady Ayeka, please...," Tenchi began to pleade. "He's our guest. Please let him finish." Ayeka looked to Tenchi, and slowly sat back down. "Very well," she said. "But I hope that this is very good." The bounty hunter merely blinked, and continued. "I'll settle the matter now, then. After Tenchi, Ryoko, and Kiyone defeated me in fair combat, my contract became void. I no longer seek the bounty on Tenchi. I was free to pursue my true purpose for coming here, which made itself known to me when Sasami came out to collect her friends." He looked down at Sasami. "I felt... called. I don't know if words can truely explain it, but something called to me, telling me to come here, to Earth." "Tsunami called him," Sasami added. "She said that she was calling a Guardian to protect me and her, and then Shadow came. He's here to help us!" Everyone present sat dumbfounded, with the exception of Washu and Katsuhito, who quietly ate their dinner. Shadow turned to Tenchi. "I assure you, Tenchi, that I am not here to harm anyone. I only wish to protect Sasami." "Protect her from what?" Ayeka asked. "Why should Tsunami feel the need to call on another person for protection?" "I don't know," Shadow admitted. "Like I said to Ryoko, I don't fully understand the situation myself. But, I know that I have to be here. There is a reason for it, and I want to be here to protect Sasami. I don't expect you to believe me, but you must consider what I have said." After Shadow finished, there was along moment of silence. No one took their eyes from Sasami and the strange young man who claimed to be her protector, and all of their thoughts mulled over his words. Sasami was the one to finally break the silence. "Tenchi, can Shadow stay with us, please? I know he tried to take you away, but he really didn't want to. He only wanted to find out why he was being called here. Please Tenchi, let him stay." Tenchi looked around, checking anyone's faces for signs a disapproval. Everyone nodded in agreement. For the first time, Washu spoke up. "Until we can find out why Tsunami called Shadow Dog here, we really have no choice but to let him stay, do we? At least, for Sasami's sake." Tenchi finally looked back to Shadow, and met the bounty hunter's cool gaze. "Well, I guess it's official. You can stay as long as you like." Tenchi smiled. Shadow Dog bowed his head. "I thank you greatly." "Well Tenchi," said Nobuyuki, "It looks like you'll have an extra hand to help you with all these girls." He laughed, and was the only one who found it funny. When he noticed, he stopped laughing and ate his dinner quietly. "Oh, Shadow, I'm so happy you get to stay here," Mihoshi cried. Shadow Dog frowned, and felt like crying. "Tsunami," he thought, "What have you gotten me into?" *** Later that night, Shadow Dog, the latest addition to the Masaki household, stood outside, looking up at the gibbous moon. He heard a noise behind him, and turned to see Tenchi and Ayeka walk out. "So, this is where you are!" Tenchi said. Shadow nodded to him. "I would like to thank you again, for letting me stay." "Well, if you're here to protect Sasami, you surely mustn't be an evil person," Ayeka commented. "Thank you. I will take that as a compliment, I guess." Ayeka's eyebrow's furrowed. "What do you mean by that?" "I'm sorry. It meant nothing." He had heard stories of the Princesses' temper. It would definantly be best to avoid having it brought down upon him. Ryoko materialized next to Tenchi, draping her arms over him. "So, bounty hunter, you promise that you won't harm Tenchi." He shook his head. "I already told you, I never had any intention of harming him. I'm here for Sasami and Tsunami." "Well, then, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if you revealed to us the identity of the person who put out the bounty on Lord Tenchi?" Ayeka asked. "I'm sorry, but I cannot. I am no longer under contract, but I must never reveal the names of my employers. It is unhealthy in my business. I hope you understand?" Ayeka frowned. "Yes, well, I suppose." "So," Ryoko said, "You really went out with Mihoshi? Did you have some kind of death wish, or something?" "Please don't remind me of her," Shadow Dog frowned at her. "I feel sorry for Kiyone. I kow how it is to deal with that woman. I still have nightmares about her crashing that ship. It was headed straight at me. She nearly flatened me with it." Ryoko tried with all of her might to stifle a laugh. "Man, she must've been a real terror in the sack, too." Shadow Dog ignored her, and looked to the communicator badge on his right shoulder. He pressed it, and the familiar voice of his partner Bryant crackled to life. "Shadow, where the hell have you been? You know how long it's been since you checked in? What the hell happened between you and the target?" "Bryant, the target's gone. I couldn't capture him." There was a moment of silence as Bryant checked his instruments. "What are talking about? I've got him right here on my scanners. He's... he's right next to you!" Shadow Dog sighed. It hurt a little to do this. Bryant had been his partner for so long. "Bryant, listen to me. The target's gone. You're sensors are off. He's disappeared, and so have I. You'll never hear from me or see me again. Ever." There was another long moment of silence before Shadow Dog heard his partner's voice for the last time. "It'd better damn well be worth it, Shadow." He smiled. "Trust me, it's worth more than you know. Shadow Dog out." He reached up and pulled the badge off his shirt, and closed his hand around it, crushing it. He opened it back up, and the pieces were incinerated in a black flame. Shadow looked at the three before him, and Ryoko specifically. "Statisfied?" Ryoko nodded. "I guess I misjudged you, Shadow Dog. Welcome to our home." Tenchi and Ayeka stared at Ryoko in disbelief. She looked back at them. "What? It's not like I'm apologizing, or anything!" End Part 1 Author's notes: And so ends my first attempt at Tenchi fanfic. I hope you enjoyed it. Now I just have to get working on the next part. Shadow Dog will slowly become a member of the household through out this series, so I hope you like him. Any comments, compliments, flames, discrepintcies, etc. can be sent to killersquid@ticnet.com. Please, I would appreciate any feedback, as this is my first attempt at fanfic.